Sprinkler



Nov. 30, 1943. H. c. WRIGHT SPRINKLER Filed Aug. 30, 1940 cago Flexible Shaft Company, aeorporation of Illinois Application August 30, 1940, Serial No. 354,807

y adjustment ser, for covering the minimum area.

1d Claims.

This invention relates to sprinklers adapted for watering lawns, gardens, golf courses, and the like.

The invention has more particular reference My invention is an improvement on the sprinkler disclosed in the above-identified application, but it should be understood that my invention to a rotary reaction type sprinkler characterized 5 is capable of application in other forms. Fig. 2 by tubular nozzles mounted on a head which shows in full size an embodiment adapted for rotates about a vertical axis, the longitudinal covering areas up to approximately 50 feet in axes of the tubular nozzles extending preferably diameter. In this form a hollow upright desigdownwardly and away from said vertical axis, nated generally by il supported on a suitable and each nozzle having jet orifices spaced longibase i2 is equipped with a conventional hose tudinally of its said axis and being rotatively adcoupling i3 by means of which water under presjustable about its said axis to change the angle sure is supplied to the interior of the support. of elevation of the jet deliveries to cover small On the upper end of the support Il a nozzleand large areas. The invention also relates to a carrying head designated generally by it is sprinkler having unique control means for ad- I5 mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. In justing the nozzles characterized by a control this instance the head is hollow and threaded member mounted on the head and operable from onto the upper end of the hollow bearing stud a single point to change the nozzle settings. A l5 which is journalled in a bearing bushing l sprinkler of this kind is disclosed in the applica fixed in the support. The bearing stud has an tion oi Ivar Jepson, Serial No. 354,797, filed enlarged lower end il which when the water August 30, 1940. pressure is on seats against a combined packing The main object of the present invention is to and thrust washer i3. Water is delivered under provide a nozzle structurevof the character depressure through the bearing stud into the holscribed having means for varying the size of the low head and from there to the nozzles which jet orices, or certain of them, to change the are carried on the head. volume of water delivery at diiierent settings, In the sprinkler disclosed in said application with the view to obtaining more uniform and a plurality of separate nozzles are mounted on proportionate distribution of water over the small the head, of a type adapted for causing rotation and large areas, respectively, and to attain this of the head by reaction forces of the water jet result automatically when adjusting for distance deliveries and adapted to be individually adcontrol. l justahle for changing the character of the jet Another object is to provide a simple and imdeliveries. This adjustment is made by changproved means for this purpose which is adapted ing the angle of the nozzle elevation with respect for economica1 production and will serve in a to the horizontal and at the same time adjustpractical manner the purposes intended. ing the direction of the jet delivery angularly Other objects and attendant advantages will about each nozzle axis. To this end, two or more beappreciated by those skilled in this art as the tubular nozzles are mounted on the head each invention becomes better understood by reference with its longitudinal axis in angular relation to to the following description when considered in the vertical axis about which the head rotates connection with the accompanying drawing, in and each adapted for rotative movement about whichits said longitudinal axis to change the char- Figure 1 is a small scale, side elevation of a acter of its jet deliveries. In a sprinkler for the sprinkler embodying my invention; purpose here shown I prefer to employ a pair of Fig. 2 is afragmentary vertical section through tubular nozzles I9 and 20 each supported in a the sprinkler on a f ull size scale; bearing bushing 2l in the head and each having a Fig. 3 is a plan View of the sprinkler structure 45 plurality of discharge oriiices 22, 23' and 24 spaced shown in Fig. 2; A apart lengthwise thereof. The outer end of each Figs. 4 and 5 are sections taken Substantially nozzle is closed by a screw cap 40 which is'reon the section lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, movable for cleaning purposes. To the inner end of Fig, 2; of each nozzle is xed a gear segment 25. These Figs. 6 and 7 are sections taken on the section 50 gear segments mesh with a pinion 26 xed to lines 6-6 and 'l-'l, respectively, of Fig. 2, with the lower end of a stud 2l which is mounted for a'schematic showing of distance control settings rotative movement in a cover 28 which in turn and with the adjustment set for covering the has a portion 29 threaded into the open top end maximum area; and of the head M. An indicator knob 39 suitably Figs. a and 9 are similar sections but with the tu fastened to the upper end 0f the stud 2l provides nozzles.

a manually operable means for imparting rotative movement to the stud and pinion and consequently imparting` simultaneous rotative movement to the nozzles. A spring washer 3l interf posed between the knob 30 and the top of the cover 28 normally holds the pinion shoulder seated against a packing washer 32, thereby providing an eiective water seal against leakage and keeping these parts free from unnecessary play. A similar packing washer 33 is interposed between the hub of each segment gear 25 and the head. The knob 30 has an indicator nger or pointer 34 (Fig. 3) which coacts with a dial 35 formed on the top of the cover 28. The dial has indicia thereon serving to show relatively the diierent nozzle settings, in this instance comprising the numerals 5, I0, 20, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 denoting feet, conforming substantially with the diameter of the areas covered at the particular settings denoted by these numerals. The knob 30 has a limited rotative adjustment back and forth betwen the 5" and 50 positions, determined by a stop lug 35 on the underside of the knob movable in a groove 3l in the top of the cover and limited at the ends of its movement by the abutments 38 and 39 at the ends of said groove. It will be observed that the jet orices 22, 23 and 24 for each nozzle are arranged substantially in a common plane lengthwise of the tube and that the orifice 22 nearest to 'the upper end is smaller than the orices 23 and 24. It will be further observed that when the parts are in the .50 position shown in Figs. 2 to 7, inclusive, the jet orifices are in the uppermost position with respect to a vertical plane but directed slightly at an angle to one side thereof with the result'that jets of water will be discharged n a relatively high projection covering the maximum range of delivery. By reason of the slight tilting of the jets away from the vertical, as shown by the lines 50 in Figs. 6 and 7, the head will be caused to rotate in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 3. In view of the slight angle of these jets withl respect to the vertical the reaction eiect of the water will cause the head to revolve at the slowest rate and the water will be spread over the largest area. By adjustment of the knob to any of the lower numbered positions the tubular nozzles will be rotatively moved to change the angle of the jet delivery elevation, successively lowering the elevation until when the 5 position is reached the jet delivery Will be approximately horizontal and. at n'ght angles to the longitudinal axes of the This 5 setting results in rotation of the sprinkler head at the highest speed and covers the smallest area. It will also be observed that in the present embodiment the angle of the Water streams or jets in relation to the horizontal plane (ground) is changed from approximately 0 in the 5 dial setting (Figs. 8 and 9) to approximately 80 at the 50 dial setting (Figs. 6 and 7). Considering this range of adjustment it will be manifest that the driving torque (the reaction force times thedistance of the force from the center of rotation) is changed from a maximum at the 5" dial setting to near 0 at 50 setting. This change in the driving torque settings. Furthermore, the angularity of the jet deliveries when in the upright position serves to cause rotation of the nozzles at the lowest speed and distribution of the water over the largest area and when in the horizontally disposed position the angularity of the jet deliveries serves to cause rotation of the nozzles at the highest speed and distribution of the water over the smallest area. This produces practically zero absolute velocity of the water at the point of discharge with relation to the ground when at the small area settings, a feature which is highly desirable in order to avoid damage to the grass. Also, the smaller jet openings 22 serve to shorten the inner jet deliveries and to more finely distribute the water over the inner area.

My invention provides means for obtaining more uniform and proportionate distribution of water over the small and larger areas. To this end I have provided a tubular member 4l within each of the tubular members I9 and 20, and water passages or orifices in the inner tubular members coacting with the orifices in the outer tubular members in such manner as to restrict or modify the flow of water to give the desired distribution at the different nozzle settings. Each inner member is held in iixed relation to the head I4, by suitable means such as a retaining linger 42 fixed to the innermost end of the member and engaged in a recess 43 in the head, this construction permitting quick assembling. Each inner tubular member has orifices or passages 44, 45 and 46 coacting with the orifices 22, 23 and 24, respectively, for regulating the flow of water to the latter orifices at the different settings of the outer tubular members. It will be noted that the orifice 44 registers with the orifice 22 only at the widest range settings, approximately from 40 to 50, and that the orifices 45 and 46 are elongated circumferentially of the inner tubular member so as to register with the orifices 23 and 24, respectively, to a varying degree from a small opening at the 5 setting, Fig. 9, and increasing to a full opening at about the 20 setting. The restricting edge 41 of each orifice 45 and 46 is bevelled as shown in Fig. 9 and extends parallel with the length of the tubular member, giving a sharp edge nozzle orifice which serves to give a clean cui; spray for the smaller area settings. For example, at the 5 setting shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the orifice 22 is closed by the inner tubular member and water is delivered only in a small spray jet, covering the minimum area. As the dial is turned to move the outer nozzle members (in a counterclockwise direction viewing Figs. 8 and 9) the orifices 23 and 24 are progressively opened until full streams are delivered at about the 20 setting as above mentioned. These jet deliveries continue 'until about the "40" setting when the orifice 22 comes into registration with the orice 44, as above mentioned, adding a smaller stream which distributes over the inner areas at the wider range settings. AThese proportions are not intended as limitations but merely to illustrate the change of volume and character of the Water deliveries in relation to the areas.

The invention provides what may be termed an automatic sprinkler. It is automatic in the sense that the distance, desired character of the spray, and volume of water are automatically determined with one operation, namely, the setting of the control knob. This not only eliminates the guess work and trial-and-error settings incident to prior lawn sprinklers, but it provides assess:

a natural rain-like shower suitable for all lawns, whether mature or newly seeded.

While I have in the preamble referred to my invention as applied to a reaction type sprinkler having tubular nozzles, it should be understood that in its broader phase my invention is not to be so limited. The tubular form of nozzle or discharge arm is described and shown as a preferred form, but the novel principles of my invention may be applied in other forms.

Various modifications may be made in the device embodying my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sprinkler of the rotary reaction type having a rotary water supply head, a plurality of nozzles on the head each having jet delivery oriiices means for changing the angle of the jet Vdeliveries for sprinkling relatively small and large areas, means coac-ting with said jet delivery orifices for changing the flow of water delivery through said jet delivery orifices from a comparatively small volume when said orifices are adjusted for sprinkling a small area to a larger volume when adjusted for a larger area, and control means including a manually operable member connected to the nozzles for making said adjustment of said jet delivery orifices.

2. A sprinkler of the rotary reaction type having downwardly diverging tubular nozzles each comprising an inner member and an outer tubular member, jet orifices in each outer tubular member spaced lengthwise thereof for discharging jets of water in planes substantially at right angles to its longitudinal axis, control means operable for adjusting the outer members rotatively about said longitudinal axis to position said jet orices between a horizontal plane and a vertical plane for covering small and large areas, respectively, and passages in each inner member arranged to restrict the iioW of Water through certain of the jet orices when its outer member is set to cover small areas and to allow larger volume flow of water through said jet orifices when its said outer tubular member is set for covering larger areas.

3. A sprinkler having a head mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and carrying a plurality of nozzles at opposite sides of said axis,

each nozzle having an inner and an outer tubular member on an axis inclined with respect to said vertical axis, each nozzle having one of its members fixed with respect to the head and the other adapted for rotative movement upon and withrespect to the fixed member, jet delivery oric-es in the inner and outer members in coacting relation, the jet orifices arranged to discharge jets of water in planes-substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the nozzles, means connected to the rotative members of the nozzles to adjust the angular delivery of the jets rotatively aboit said longitudinal axis to cover small and large areas, the said jet orifices of relation, each comprising an outer tubular member adapted for rotative movement about an axis extending downwardly and away from the head, each nozzle supplied by water from the head and having an orifice adapted to deliver a jet at an angle depending on the rotative position of the nomle about its axis, a member fixed to the head and located within each said tubular nozzle and having a part cooperable with the jet orifice to vary the size of said orice according to the rotative position of the said outer tubular member, and means mounted on the head connected to the nozzles and operable to set the nozzles for discharging the jets in any of a number of dilferent angular deliveries.

5. A sprinkler comprising a support, a head mounted on the support for rotation about a vertical axis, nozzles mounted on the head at opposite sides of said axis, each comprising an inner member and an outer tubular member, the inner member being fixed in relation to the head and disposed'with its longitudinal axis extending downwardly and away from said vertical axis, the outer member being rotatively movable about the inner member and havingjet delivery orifices adjustable by said rotative movement to change the elevation angle of the jet deliveries for sprinkling relatively small and large areas, the inner member having means coacting with the jet orifices of the outer member for changing the volume of delivery of said jet orifices by said rotative movement of the outer member, and control means connected to the outer member of each nozzle and operable to effect said rotative movement of said outer member, each outer tubular member having a series of jet orifices spaced lengthwise of its axis and each inner member having a series of passages arranged to register with the jet orifices at points in the relative rotation between the outer member and the inner member, said passages arranged to effect a smaller volume delivery when the outer member is in position for covering a small area and a larger volume delivery for a larger area.

6. A sprinkler having a head mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, tubular nozzles mounted on the head at opposite sides of said axis, each nozzle arranged so that its longitudinal axis is in acute angle relation to said vertical axis and comprising an inner tubular member fixedI to the head and an outer tubular member rotatively adjustable about the inner member, means for adjusting the outer tubular member rotatively with respect to the inner member, discharge orifices in the inner and outer tubular members coacting in such manner as to change the volume and angular direction of delivery by Vsaid rotative adjustment, and said nozzle adjusting means including a nozzle adjusting member geared to the rotative nozzle members for simultaneously adjusting them by a single setting.

7. A sprinkler of the rotary reaction ty-pe having a water supply head mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of nozzles on the head, each nozzle having an inner member and an outer tubular member inclined downwardly and away from said vertical axis, each said inner member being fixed with respect to the head and each said outer tubular member neing mounted for movement withrespect to its said inner member, jet delivery orifices in the outer members spaced lengthwise thereof and arranged so that by said movement of the outer members the delivery of the oriiices will be set at different elevations for sprinkling relatively small and large areas, the inner members having means for restricting the ow of water to at least a loweix orice of each said outer member when the latter is set for sprinkling a small area and for allowing Iiow of water through all said oriiices of said outer member when said outer member is set for sprinkling a larger area, and manually operable adjusting means connected to the outer members for effecting said movement thereof to different settings, the parts being constructed and arranged so that the settings of said adjusting means represent relatively small and large areas covered by the sprinkler.

8. A sprinkler of the rotary reaction type having jet deliveries substantially at right angles to an axis acute with vrespect to the vertical axis about which the jet deliveries revolve, means manually operable for adjusting the jet deliveries between a horizontally disposed position for small area sprinkling to higher elevations for larger area sprinkling while maintaining the jet deliveries in the dened relationship to said vertical axis, and means for varying the volume of Water delivered through said jet deliveries from a relatively small volume when said jet deliveries are adjusted for said small area sprinkling to a larger volume for said larger area sprinkling.

9. A sprinkler of the rotary reaction type having a plurality of individual nozzles rotatable about a vertical axis, each nozzle having a jet delivery and means adjustable to change the angle of the jet .delivery with relation to the ground, said means being adjustable to different settings for causing said jet deliveries to sprinkle predetermined relatively small and large areas, each nozzle having means for varying the volume of its jet delivery, and means coordinating the rst and second named means for effecting a reduction in volume of said jet delivery of the nozzles when said adjusting means is set for sprinkling a small area and for ellecting a larger volume jet delivery when said adjusting means is set for sprinkling a larger area.

10. A sprinkler of the rotary reaction type having a plurality oi' individual nozzles rotatable about a vertical axis, each nozzle having a jlet delivery and means adjustable to change the angle of the jet delivery with relation to the ground, said means being adjustable to diierent settings for causing said jet deliveries to sprinkle predetermined relatively small and large areas, means for varying the volume of flow of water through the jet deliveries, and means coordinating the rst and second named means for effecting a reduction in volume of said jet delivery of the nozzles when said adjusting means is set for sprinkling a small area and for effecting a larger jet delivery when said adjusting means is set for sprinkling a larger area.

l1. A sprinkler of the rotary reaction type having a plurality of individual nozzles rotatable about a vertical axis, each nozzle on an axis acute with relation to said vertical axis and having a jet delivery adjustable about said acute axis in a plane substantially at right angles thereto for changing the elevation of the jet delivery to cover relatively small and large areas, means for changing the volume of the water delivered through said jet deliveries, and manually operable control means connected to the nozzles and operable for adjusting the elevation of said jet deliveries, said control means coordinating the jet elevation adjustments and the volume changing means and being operable for causing said jet deliveries to deliver a relatively small volume of water when said jet elevation adjustment is set for sprinkling a small area and larger volumes of water when said jet elevation adjustment is set for sprinkling larger areas.

12. An automatic lawn sprinkler comprising, in combination, a plurality of nozzles rotatable about a vertical axis by reaction forces, each nozzle having adjustable means for delivering jets of water at definite angles between a horizontally disposed position for sprinkling in a small area the highest nozzle speed and at higher elevations for sprinkling in larger areas at lesser nozzle speeds, means coacting with said nozzle adjustablev means for varying the volume of water delivered from the nozzles between a relatively small volume at said small area adjustment of the nozzle delivery and larger volumes at diierent adjustments of the nozzle delivery elevation for said larger areas, and control means connec-ted to said nozzle adjustable means and operable to effect said volume change in coordinated relation to said elevation adjustments including a manually operable member adapted to be set in one position to automatically eiect said small area delivery with small volume of Water and in other positions to automatically effect deliveries in said larger areas and with larger volumes.

13. An automatic sprinkler of the rotary reaction type having a water supply headl rotatable about a vertical axis, a plurality of discharge arms on the head each having jet delivery means adjustable to different denite settings graduated i to eiect sprinkling over relatively small and large areas differentiated one from the other by said graduations, control means having a manually operable control member connected with said adjustable jet delivery means and operable through said connection to set the same in diiferent positions according to said graduations to eiec-t controlled water deliveries over said relatively small and large areas, and means coacting with said control means constructed and arranged to cause said jet delivery means to deliver a relatively small volume of water when said control means is set for sprinkling a small area and a relatively larger volume of water when said control means is set for sprinkling a larger area.

14. A sprinkler comprising a support, a head mounted on the support for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of nozzles on the head each comprising an inner member and an outer tubular member, the inner member being iixed in relation to the head and disposed with its longitudinal axis extending downwardly and away from said vertical axis, the outer member being rotatively movable about the inner member and having jet delivery orifices adjustable by said rotative movement to change the elevation angle of the jet deliveries for sprinkling relatively small and large areas, the inner member having means coacting with the jet orices of the outer member for changing the volume of delivery of said jet orices by said rotative movement of the outer member, each outer tubular member having a series of jet orices spaced lengthwise of its axis and said coacting means of each inner member being arranged to eiect a smaller volume delivery when the outer member is in position for covering a small area and a larger volume delivery for a larger area.

HORACE C. WRIGHT. 

